The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-08-31
GRAND HEROiSM.
II Mexican War Victorian Who Died Co save
Woman and Her Babe.

Mexican War Veteran Who Died Co save
Woman and Her Babe.
number OF battle-scarred veterans
s. were sitting around u comfortable fire
/ IN General Thomas a. Rowlcy's Office
the other day, spinning yarns of daring
and heroism such as would make the
! blood of the coolest Jingle with pleasure
able excitement During lull in the
conversation the General aroused him
| self from n reverie into which he had
dropped, and with sigh, began;
Boys, you've been telling tales Of
| battles-of men who risked their lives
for their country's good-but you, one
and all, have forgotten to mention the
name of man known to YOU all, and
against whose one act of self-sacrificing
bravery your stories sink into insignifi-
canoe. refer to Sergeant John Lyle,
+ aveteran of the Mexican war, who sur
I vived that struggle only to perish later
in a nobler and more heroic manner
than did ever mortal man on a battle
field.
''JOhn was brother of Bob Lytle,
who snow in the Delinquent Tax Office
In 40 he was one of the first to get the
gold fever and leave for California. He
was one of the few who struck luck.
and after time he got together quite
snug little fortune. It was then he
tired of the Slope and decided to move
into Mexico, which he did about 1867 or
1868, embarking in the cotton and
cOffee-raising business, and also inter
esting himself in silver mining. After
time his health began to fail, and he
started overland to California for his
health. This was in 20. For some
reason or other he never completed his
journey, but instead took passage on
the steamer Continental with Captain
st. Lucas, bound for Mexico. When
the vessel was about three days out
there came up one of those terrible
cyclones that sometimes strike the Pa
cific Ocean, and against which no vessel
is able to sail. Well, the Continental
was not an overly strong ship, and it
sprung a leak. Then began the lower
ing of the life-boats, but one by one as
they reached the water the wind would
dash them against the side of the vessel
and smash them to smithereens. AT
last the storm subsidized, and it was we'll
It did. for the Inflated Continental was
rapidly sinking. It was found that
there were but two life-boats left, and
at least seven more persons on board
than they would carry.
''What was to be done? Some one
suggested casting lots to see who should
escape and who should remain and
perish. Lyle was lucky. AMI drew
release ticket for the last bout. It was
lowered and JOHN was PIT into it. Just
as it was about t. p ls'l free from the
vessel there was Il terrible shrek heard,
and thare. on the fast sinking ship,
stood six men and Il woman. It was the
latter who had uttered the cry. In her
arms was babe So lrce yeir old, and
Oh her face look of anguish and terror
that poor Lyle could not stand.
"'Stop the boat, hoys,' he said, 'and
take that woman AID her child on
board. I'll take her place on the vessel.
She's young and strong, while at the
most haven't a great while to live I
might as well die now as later, and
despite all protests he took his place on
the Continental, while the unknown
woman and her babe entered the life
boat and were saved. The seven men
on the boat built raft and when the
ship sunk cast out to sea on it. They
were never seen or heard of after
Lytle's relatives after time wrote to
the consul at Mexico and tried to re-
cover or find out something about his
estate, but to this day have received o
reply. His money, if he had any, and
it is believed he had, has been confs-
Gated by somebody or other, and all
that remains is the memory of his noble
life and d5ath. ~ PITTSBURGH Leader.